Friction-grip hanger



Jan. 1, 192

V E. L. KAMRATH FRICTION GRIP RANGER Filed March 23, 1925 Patented dan. l, l924.

T STATES EMIL L. KAMRAEH, OF MILWAUKEE, VJISCONSIN, ASSG}I\TOR, BY DIRECT AND MESI\TE ASSIGNJIENTS, OF 0l\TE-HALF TO I-IERIJIAN J. BAERWALD A1\TD ONE-HALE TO CHARLES H. BAERVVALD, BOTH OF MILWA'KEE, WISCONSIN.

FRICIION- GEI]? HANGER.

Application filed March S33, 1923.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it.known that I, EMIL L. KAI\:(BATH, a citizen of the United States.- and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have inveuted certain new and useful mprovements in Frietion-Grip Hangers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof. r

The invention relates to imprevements i hanging or supporting devices for articles, such as towels and the like, and is adapted particularly for ordinary household and ofiice use. A

It comprises a base and a U-shaped holder, the arms of the holder being divergent and each having a leg bent therefrom at substantially right angles andimbedded in the base. and the base and a hole is provided in the base between the upper ends of the arms of the holder.

The primary object of the invehtion is the provision of a U-shaped holder having divergent arms, whereby room is provided so that an article may readily be inserted between the base and the ball, the ball being movable upwardly into the space provided by the divergent arms. The divergnt arms provide room also for the positioning of a screw in the hole in the base.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hanger into which the insertion of an article to be held is facilitate d especially by the shape of the base and the curvature of the holder at its lower end, immediately adjacent thereto. The holder is not directed at an angie with respect to the base, but is nearest to the base ata point immediately above the lower end of the holder, s o that room is provided for the convenient insertion of an article to be held.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a holder of especial simplicity,

' being of the shortest length possible for the performance of the function intended, and so shaped as to prevent accidental bending and release of the ball. From the U-shaped holder a pair of logs extend at right angles to the base and an arm is imbedded therein. The holder is not long and very considerable force must be exerted in order to deflect the wire.

With the above and other objects in view,

A ball is retained between the holder Serial No. 627,062.

which will appear as the description pro ceeds, the invention residessin the novel con struction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the ap pended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application ot the principles thereof.

Figure 1 is a central sectional elevatiou of the device taken on the line 1-l of Fig ure 2.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereot.

Figures 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 33 and 4- l, respectively, of Figure 1.

The base 10 is substantially rectangular, and the wire holder 11 is substantially U- shaped. Its arms 1212 diverge slightly upwardly and at 13 the upper end of arm 12 is bent at substantially right angles into a leg 14, which is imbedded in the base 10. At 13 arm 12 is similarly bent into a leg 14:. The arms 12-12 are inclined inwardly from their outermost points adjacent their upper ends to a point 15, immediately above their lower extremity. At 15 they are closest to the base 10. The arms describe a curve which, when viewed from a point adjacent the base, convex. The holder is not positioned at a sharp angie with respect to base 12, so that room is provided for the insertion of an article 16. The base is scooped marginally at 17 and this promotes also the facility of insertion of the towel or other article that is to be suspended by the hanger. W hen the article is moved upwardly between the ball 18 and the base 10, the ball is moved upward readily as the arms 1212 of the holder diverge from the base and there is no frictional or other influence tending to prevent upward move" ment of the ball. The fact that the arms 1212 diverge upwardly, provides more room for the ball. The divergence of the arms 12-12 provides room, also, for the insertion of a screw not shown in the coun tersunk hole 19 between the upper ends of the arms. After the article has been insert CII ed into position, the ball 18 drops downwardly and 'r'rictioi ally grips"the article. Theinward inclination of the hole towards the base 10 causes the ball to fit more tightly against the base es the ball is urged downwardly. Consequentlj the weight of the article 16 does not tend to releasethe grip of the ball, but rather increases its firinness. The divergence upwardly of the arms 12-12 operates to accentuate this effect, since, as the ball moves "downw'ardly; the arms 1212 are closer together at lower levels and 'conseq'uently tend to :tor'ce the ball against the base 10. Each of the arir1s l2 12" is Si1bstantially L-shaped'ih side view, and the wire liorming the 'l io l deris oi' the shortest length possiblefforthe ac complishing of the functions nten de l; the wire i.sshort, less'le\*erago can be"exorted thereon then if it were lon g. The shape of the wire,ihtthiding the l 1ldc1 and the legs 14,14, results in structure 'o f the greatest strength ind duruhiiitj 'Thele'g's 1%141; are positioned by being inserted in base 10 tintil their ends are flush with the rear surface thereof. This may he done by resting the base on a flat hie1nber and driv ing the legs in 'until they contact with the member. When this position is reached, the arms 1212' are spaced. properly 'roin the base so as to coo'perate with the bll 18. An accurate adj iistment of the holder with respect to the ball'hay, therefore, be effectetl in a ery convenient rna,ner,

The base may he made of yielding ina terial, such as soft wood; thongh ohviously other niaterials may be used. WVhere the base is soft and yielding, an especial trictional or gripping action oftheball 6Sults by reason of the tendency of the b ase to conform to the curvature o;tthe ball, whereby the release "ofthe ball is impeded and an orffeotive' grip onthe article sus 3ended results. In its lower or gripping position, tl hall has a three-point contact. It abut:s against arm 12 and base 10." The threepint Contact operates to promote the rela tive action of the ball. Tl:ie'arnis'1212 prevent lateral movenient of the ball, so that there is less dan'ger of disengagenent there of. With the arms 1212 contaoting directly with the ball, all possibility of lateral movement tl 1ereof in its lower position is pre'vented "'The oontact of the ball with the article 16 is such as not to tear the ar ticle, as might be the case if; two similar arms, such es 1212 were protided for contact with the ball instead base 10. The suspension "of an article between the ball and strands of wire tends to out the faloric.

I claim:

The combination ot a flat of mate-- rial thickness, a gripping' ball associated therewith,' a wire U-Shapd. holder therefor, the arms of the being slig;h tlj diyejrgent upwardly, a leg continuous with'one ;f'tho arms of the holder" h'iid bent away thererom at su bstantiafly a right angle,h second leg"continuoirswith the other ofsaid, arms and bentaway thereir0m at subs'tan ,a11ya right angie, said ,egs' being imhdded in saidfbase, and a ball. retainedgby Saidhlder and said loase, said holder ei;tending 1n- Wardly' froni the top theifeof a point slightly above the lower end thereof,'the lower end being spaced. f;1orn the haseto facilitate the ii isertion" an article to be suspended, whereby an article be de tachabl-y, held betiiieen said' base and ball n ecl d, l P1Y fim' e In testimony that I clairn the foregoing I have mr m tov e hand; e M wau ee inthe conn ty of Milwaukee, State, of

Visconsin.

EMIL L.- I\AMRATIE 

